‘Can We Have Some Humour Please’: Prabal Gurung Denies Dating KJo

Karan Johar had turned 47 on 25 May, and celebs from the industry had showered him with wishes. But the one birthday wish that seems to have caught the attention of fans is from Nepalese-American fashion designer Prabal Gurung who posted a picture of the two on Instagram. Karan embraced Gurung as they posed on a staircase at The Boom Boom Room, a glitzy club in New York’s Meatpacking District. “Pyaar kiya toh darna kya. Happy birthday KJo,” he wrote in the caption.

The photograph has led many to speculate that this is confirmation that Karan Johar and Prabal Gurung are in a relationship. Now, Prabal has clarified that he is not dating Karan Johar and the post should be read in good humour.

Gurung took to Twitter to clarify that Karan is just his “dearest friend”. “Can we have some humour and levity please. I feel very saddened and disappointed to need to say this, but to officially set the record straight: I am not in a romantic relationship with Karan Johar,” he wrote in the post.

No, I am not dating ⁦@karanjohar⁩ He is my dearest friend, mentor, buddy and a big brother. Pls. Kindly read the attachement with my statement and hopefully we can lay it all to rest. Wish you all nothing but the best and love XPG pic.twitter.com/I5UQkIt2fx

The designer said his Instagram post of Karan and him was done with “humour and my absolute love of Bollywood, it’s melodramatic flair and the one and only Madhubala... It has subsequently been misconstrued as Karan and me being in a relationship. Karan is one of my dearest friends.”

Saying that he has a lot of respect for Karan, Gurung elaborated on the post. “We’ve seen each other through our respective highs and lows. Karan is someone I deeply admire and respect . Not only has he been there for me, he’s been there for my family as well. I admire his wit, compassion, and his empathy for this world,” he added.

Gurung also said that as a “global society, we need to expand the horizon and definition of love. I feel that each and every one of us need to love whoever we want, however we want to love them -- unabashedly, openly and proudly.”